Materials to Maintain Your ZHP IIIII Hand Protection IIIII Tools to Maintain Your ZHP
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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Austin Texas
    Posts
    257

    Something is wrong with the new driveshaft

    So a couple of months ago, I installed a replacement driveshaft in my sedan. The CSB and giubo both needed replacement, and my indy recommended I just buy a new driveshaft to avoid the hassle of replacing the CSB alone. I purchased a rebuilt one from driveshaftspecialist.

    The install seemed to go okay. Driving the car, the clunking due to the dead CSB was finally gone. However, a new, much higher frequency vibration around 60mph+ has taken its place. It's a harsh buzz instead of a low speed clunk. At 80mph, especially on deceleration, the entire car buzzes like a swarm of giant bees.

    I've ruled out everything else. Not tires, suspension, differential/engine/transmission mounts. The noise started immediately after installing the new driveshaft. My indy looked at my giubo for 0.5 seconds and said everything looked fine. I don't think the issue is with the giubo. Months later, it still looks perfect. OEM, with ALL new mounting hardware; yes, the arrows point to the flanges; yes, it's oriented properly for the load-bearing, aka post #9 from here: https://www.e46fanatics.com/threads/...wrong.1127454/. Yes the torques are correct for it. The giubo is fine!

    What I don't think is fine is the end that mounts to the differential:

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    It appears the grease inside the part that mounts to the transmission has been spraying out. On the OEM driveshaft this part was sealed; the rebuilt one is not (the panel holding the grease inside falls off if the star bolts are removed). Also...is that gap okay? I had to pull it out (separate them) somewhat so that it would fit. (Is that the universal joint?) Is that crimped metal band supposed to be there? The whole thing just looks odd.

    Any ideas would be appreciated.

    EDIT: Here is the driveshaft I was sent (bottom one): http://www.driveshaftspecialist.com/...20type%203.jpg
    On the right side is the part that mounts to the differential. The bolts that came preinstalled in it (pictured) I had to hammer out and replace with the star-bolts that were previously installed in the car in the OEM driveshaft. The replacement ones were threaded, but the heads were flat--there was no way to install them into the differential holes! What the absolute...?

    WHY is the whole process so convoluted??
    Last edited by usinjin; 06-28-2021 at 09:47 PM. Reason: clarification
    2005 Jet Black ZHP Sedan "Adriana" || TunedByDaniel || BMW Alarm + Fuel Lock || ORION V4s || Eagle Eyes || 435i Coupe Sport Seats || Perforated Leather X5 M-Sport Wheel || FLOW Designs Lip

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2019
    Location
    W/S, NC
    Posts
    141
    Did you replace the butyl tape between the center support bearing and the chassis when you bolted the new CSB. BMW had a TSB for this related to drive line vibrations and the fix was butyl tape

    Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk
    - 2005 Titanium Silver 330i ZHP 6spd -


  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    Vermont
    Posts
    588
    Huh… I just had my CSB bearing replaced, which fixed a heavy, low-speed vibration, but I now have a minor, higher-speed vibration. My mechanic thought it might dissipate with a little driving. Any more info on the butyl tape fix?
    Last edited by Reasoned1; 07-02-2021 at 04:38 PM.
    2004 BMW 330i ZHP (52k miles), Jet Black with black leather, MFactory LSD (3.38) with Z4 cover, 18"x8.5" ET38 APEX Arc-8's (Anthracite) with 245/40 Michelin PSS', Koni Sports with factory springs and front and rear reinforcement plates, Shark Injector, Corsa TSE3 cat-back exhaust, TMS under-driven pulleys (water & steering), CDV delete, TMS CF strut brace, K&N CAI, GAS DISA rebuild, TMS pedals, Wheelskins steering wheel cover, roller tray center console, black-out grilles, and WeatherTech mats

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2020
    Location
    SF Bay, CA
    Posts
    1,266
    Quote Originally Posted by Reasoned1 View Post
    Huh… I just had my CSB bearing replaced, which fixed a heavy, low-speed vibration, but I now have a minor, higher-speed vacation. My mechanic thought it might dissipate with a little driving. Any more info on the butyl tape fix?
    You put a strip of butyl tape between the CSB and the body. You're also supposed to preload the CSB in one direction before tightening the bolts.

    FWIW I've had my driveshaft out a couple of times and did not replace the butyl tape. But, I believe it somewhat re-squished itself into place upon reinstallation

    2004 BMW 330CI ZHP (well, technically ZAM)


  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    Vermont
    Posts
    588
    Thank you very much, t.er!
    2004 BMW 330i ZHP (52k miles), Jet Black with black leather, MFactory LSD (3.38) with Z4 cover, 18"x8.5" ET38 APEX Arc-8's (Anthracite) with 245/40 Michelin PSS', Koni Sports with factory springs and front and rear reinforcement plates, Shark Injector, Corsa TSE3 cat-back exhaust, TMS under-driven pulleys (water & steering), CDV delete, TMS CF strut brace, K&N CAI, GAS DISA rebuild, TMS pedals, Wheelskins steering wheel cover, roller tray center console, black-out grilles, and WeatherTech mats

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Austin Texas
    Posts
    257
    Butyl tape, if in good enough shape, can be reheated and reused. I didn't even reheat and my mechanic thought I'd installed new tape. Wouldn't be nearly enough to cause the vibration I was getting.

    I went to my mechanic--we went over every detail of my process, and he thought I did everything exactly as I should have.

    I called Driveshaft Specialist and they thought it was "highly unusual" that their driveshaft would be the cause of the vibrations. Yes, of course they would think that!

    Nevertheless, they agreed to send me another driveshaft. I installed it in exactly the same way as I did the last one. Car drives like it's come right off the factory floor. Zero vibrations at any speed.

    Huh, who would have thought! /thread
    2005 Jet Black ZHP Sedan "Adriana" || TunedByDaniel || BMW Alarm + Fuel Lock || ORION V4s || Eagle Eyes || 435i Coupe Sport Seats || Perforated Leather X5 M-Sport Wheel || FLOW Designs Lip

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2020
    Location
    SF Bay, CA
    Posts
    1,266
    Glad to hear you got it resolved! FWIW I noticed that one of the little balancing tabs to the driveshaft was starting to come off... I'm wondering if one (or a few) of them came off already, causing the imbalance?


    2004 BMW 330CI ZHP (well, technically ZAM)


  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Austin TX
    Posts
    7,606
    Good to hear.
    2005 IR / black / 6MT
    157,000 miles

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Irvine, CA
    Posts
    818
    Glad it's resolved! Thanks for following up and posting results.

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